Book Description

The Wordsworth Classics covers a huge list of beloved works of literature in English and translations. This growing series is rigorously updated, with scholarly introductions and notes added to new titles.

This work tells the story of an extremely cunning and fearsome whale which becomes the focus of fear and superstition among its pursuers. The one-legged Captain Ahab of the whaler Pequod takes the reader deeper and deeper into the realm of obsessive revenge and monomania.

Amazon.co.uk

Arguably Herman Melville's greatest work, and hailed as a classic American novel, Moby Dick tells the tale of one man's fatal obsession and his willingness to sacrifice his life and that of his crew to achieve his goal. The story follows the fortunes of Captain Ahab and the culturally and spiritually diverse crew of the Pequod, a 19th century whaling ship. The Pequod is on its last voyage out of New Bedford, Mass, in pursuit of Moby Dick, the great white whale which has been Ahab's obsessional quarry and bitter adversary for many years. Narrated by sole survivor Ishmael, the tale forms a complex fictional fusion, combining a wealth of literary symbolism, hidden meaning and philosophical debate with adventure narrative and a detailed historical account of the 19th century whaling trade.

--Emily Lowson

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up-Opening with the classic line, "Call me Ishmael," the narrator's New England accent adds a touch of authenticity to this sometimes melodramatic presentation. The St. Charles Players do a credible job on the major roles, but some of the group responses, such as "Aye, aye Captain," sound more comic than serious. This adaptation retains a good measure of Melville's dialogue and key passages which afford listeners a vivid connection with the lengthy novel. Background music and appropriate sound effects enhance the telling of the story about Captain Ahab's obsessive pursuit of the malevolent white whale. The cassettes are clearly marked, and running times are noted on each side of the tapes. Announcements at the beginning of each side and a subtle chime signal at the end make it easy to follow the story, but a stereo player must be used to hear some dialogue. The lightweight cardboard package is inadequate for circulation. Done in a radio theatre format, the recording does a nice job of introducing the deeper themes of the book and covering the major events. For school libraries that support an American literature curriculum, this recording offers a different interpretation of an enduring classic.

Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library. Rocky Hill, CT

From Library Journal

In a sense, this work is the piece de resistance of the textual revolution in American scholarship of the past generation. The first half is the final MLA "Approved Text" of the classic novel, prepared under the auspices of the Center for Editions of American Authors. The second half consists of an Historical Note detailing background, genetic composition, publication, and ensuing critical reception; a discussion of its textual history; and some relevant marginalia. The work is not only thorough and rigorous, but, considering the scholarly grittiness of the endeavor, surprisingly lucid and graceful in its exposition. Highly recommended for special collections.

Earl Rovit, City Coll., CUNY

From AudioFile

This adaptation of Melville's monumental classic retains many of its famous lines and scenes, giving the listener a sense of the endless search for the white whale while not actually going through it detail by detail. The actors bring in a variety of accents and voices that tell much about the characters: from Ishmael's salty New England accent to a fellow whaler's German accent to Queequeg's powerful tone. Sounds of the sea weave in and out of the story without overwhelming it, and the scenes in which the crew is out chasing whales are imbued with a sense of urgency and suspense. The St. Charles Players make MOBY-DICK palatable for a general audience. A.F.

The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature

Novel by Herman Melville, published in London in October 1851 and published a month later in the United States. Moby-Dick is generally regarded as its author's masterpiece and one of the greatest American novels. The basic plot of Moby-Dick is simple. The narrator (who asks to be called "Ishmael") tells of the last voyage of the ship Pequod out of New Bedford, Mass. Captain Ahab is obsessed with the pursuit of the white whale Moby-Dick, which finally kills him. On that level, the work is an intense, superbly authentic narrative. Its theme and central figure, however, are reminiscent of Job in his search for justice and of Oedipus in his search for truth. The novel's richly symbolic language and tragic hero are indicative of Melville's deeper concerns: the equivocal defeats and triumphs of the human spirit and its fusion of creative and murderous urges.

About Author

Herman Melville (1819-1891) was born in New York City and became a seaman at a young age. His works include Typee, The Confidence Man, and Pierre.

Book Dimension :

length: (cm)19.8 width:(cm)12.6

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白鲸(全译本)(精装)

梅尔维尔,H.(Herman Melvill l819-1891) 小说家、诗人。1819年8月1日生于纽约,15岁离开学校,做过银行小职员、皮货店店员和教师。1839年在一条去英国利物浦的商船上充当服务员,接触海洋,对他以后的创作产生了影响。1841年他22岁时再度航海,在捕鲸船“阿古希耐”号上充当水手,航行于南太平洋一带。他后来的杰作《白鲸》取材于这次海上生活。1842年7月离船,曾为南太平洋马克萨斯群岛有食人生番之称的泰皮族所俘虏。脱逃后于当年8月在一条澳大利亚商船上作水手,因违犯纪律,被囚在塔希提岛。越狱后在当地各岛漫游,所闻所见后来写进他的《欧穆》一书中。11月,他到一艘捕鲸船上做投叉手。1843年8月又在一艘军舰上做水手,1844年10月在波士顿退伍。后开始写作。

梅尔维尔最初的两本书《泰皮》(1846)和《欧穆》(1847),是根据他在泰皮和塔希提的见闻经过艺术加工而写成的游记。1847年梅尔维尔开始创作《玛地》,并同纽约文艺界接触,经常为文艺刊物写稿。1849年梅尔维尔出版《雷得本》,1850年出版《白外衣》,都写航海生活,也都获得好评。这年夏天他与霍桑相识,两人成为邻居和朋友。1851年梅尔维尔出版他最重要的作品《白鲸》,这部小说以充实的思想内容、史诗般的规模和沉郁瑰奇的文笔,成为杰出的作品,但在当时却没有得到重视。

梅尔维尔的小说作品还有《皮埃尔》(1852)和《伊斯雷尔·波特》(1855)。他的短篇小说和散文有《代笔者巴特贝》(1853)、《迷惘的岛屿》(1854)、《班尼托·西兰诺》(1855)等,后来集成《广场故事》于1856年出版。1857年出版的长篇小说《骗子的化装表演》。他去世前所写的一部长篇小说是《毕利·伯德》(1924),在他死后30多年才出版。

梅尔维尔晚年转而写诗。1866至1885年在纽约任海关检查员。1866年他自费印行第1部诗集《战事集》。1876年又自费出版以宗教为题材的18000行长诗《克拉瑞尔》,1888年和1891年自费出版诗集《约韩·玛尔和其他水手》和诗集《梯摩里昂》,各印25册。

梅尔维尔于1891年9月28日去世。一生潦倒不得意,他的作品在当时大多也不受欢迎,直至20世纪20年代以后才逐渐引起注意。

作品包括：

代表作《白鲸》（又名《莫比一迫克》）1851年

《泰比》（1846）,《奥穆》（1847）,《玛地》（1849）、《雷得本》（1849）和《白外套》（1850）,

《彼埃尔》（1852）、《伊萨雷尔·波特》（1855）、《骗子》（1857）,

长篇小说《比利·巴德》（死后于1924年被整理发表）和短篇故事集《广场故事》（1856）。